Abraham Lincoln and his Generals during the Civil War Term Paper by Jessie
Abraham Lincoln and his Generals during the Civil War
This paper explores Abraham Lincoln's involvement in the Union's tactical decisions during the Civil War.
# 153786
| 815 words
| 3 sources
| MLA
| 2014
| 
Published
on Jan 13, 2014
in
History
(Leaders)
, History
(U.S. Civil War 1860-1865)
, Military
(Military History)
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Description:
This paper explores President Abraham Lincoln's dogged involvement in the Union's tactical decisions during the Civil War and the conflicts his involvement caused. The paper discusses how Lincoln's ideas were sometimes unorthodox and angered his more experienced advisors, especially General George McClellan, who would eventually become his bitter political rival. Nevertheless, the paper asserts that Lincoln exercised remarkable judgment and successfully led the Union to victory against more experienced military leaders like Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee.
From the Paper:
"To begin, Abraham Lincoln spent only a brief time in the military prior to his election. In 1832, Lincoln served as "captain of a military unit that saw no action in the Black Hawk War" (McPherson 1). Lincoln's lack of military experience was a sharp contrast with the knowledge of his rivals. Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy, was a West Point graduate who led a regiment during the Mexican War. Robert E. Lee was a well-respected field commander."At the start of the Civil War, many Union military leaders and the general public believed that the North could strike quickly and beat the Confederacy by attacking Richmond. President Lincoln listened to the advice of his military advisors, such as General Willard Scott, and authorized the advancement of a large but untrained Union army. The unseasoned soldiers would eventually panic and break rank when confronted by a Confederate counterattack.
"The defeat at Bull Run motivated President Lincoln to take a more active military leadership position because the loss demonstrated that even the union's military experts were not infallible. Bull Run "marked a turning point in Lincoln's administration" (Symonds 60). The President oversaw General Scott's retirement as the commander of the Union military and supported the promotion of General George McClellan as his replacement."
Sample of Sources Used:
- McPherson, James. "Lincoln as Commander in Chief," Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonian Institute, Jan. 2009. Web. 21 Feb. 2012.
- Symonds, Craig. Lincoln and his admirals. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.
- Williams, T. Harry. Lincoln and His Generals. New York: Random House, 2011. Print.
Cite this Term Paper:
APA Format
Abraham Lincoln and his Generals during the Civil War (2014, January 13)
Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/term-paper/abraham-lincoln-and-his-generals-during-the-civil-war-153786/
MLA Format
"Abraham Lincoln and his Generals during the Civil War" 13 January 2014.
Web. 29 March. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/term-paper/abraham-lincoln-and-his-generals-during-the-civil-war-153786/>